Make It Look Like Someone’s Always Home!

Did you know motorized shades can help improve your home’s security? And we don’t mean providing privacy when you need it (although that’s important, too!). 

With motorized window coverings incorporated into your smart home system, you can program shades to raise and lower at various times throughout the day, mimicking the appearance of an occupied house. And by syncing your shades to smart lighting, both will work together to create a convincingly occupied house. 

Read on to learn how motorized shades and a smart system work to benefit your Toronto, ON, home! 

Add Smart Window Shades to Your Existing Lighting System 

Do you already own a smart lighting system? Aren’t you in luck! Not only do you have complete control over your lights’ color and brightness, but you can also save scenes and schedule lights to follow a routine.

But controlling LED lights is only half of the equation. What if you could manage and automate natural light in your Toronto, ON home, too? 

By integrating motorized shades into your automated lighting system, you’ll add even more convenience, comfort, and energy savings to daily life. Plus, with Canada’s recent ban on corded window coverings, now is the perfect time to switch to motorized shades. 

Read on to learn how to incorporate motorized shading in your lighting control system.

Bring Music to Every Corner of Your Toronto Home 

What is multi-room audio? Essentially, it’s a network of speakers in two or more rooms that connect to the same music source. So, whether you’re streaming playlists, spinning vinyl, or playing TV audio, you can hear it across the whole house over several speakers. 

There are several ways to create a multi-room audio system. Some people use wireless speaker bundles, while others prefer to wire their audio equipment to the same system. 

Which is the better approach? In this article, we’ll compare wired and wireless audio to help you find the right solution for your Toronto, ON home. 

Discover the Convenient Alternative to Corded Manual Shades

As of May 1^st, 2021, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act is enforcing new Corded Window Covering Regulations. To eliminate strangulation hazards associated with corded window coverings, exposed strings and looped cords will no longer be available on window shades.

What does this mean for homeowners? Soon, you won’t be able to find window shades with long strings and loops. While some may have found this an easy approach to window treatments, there’s a much more convenient alternative: motorized shades.

Read on to learn how motorized shades work, what they’ll offer your home, and where you can find them in the Muskoka, ON area.

Discover the Power of Your Crestron Smart Home

Whether you’re new to Crestron home automation or have owned a system for a while, there’s a world of possibilities available through the Crestron Home app or voice command.

It’s common knowledge that a smart home system can let you activate devices through one touch of a button and check on your house remotely. But if you’re ready to take your Muskoka, ON home to the next level, read on to learn five lesser-known features you can enjoy with a Crestron Home system.

Savant Puts Lighting, AV, Security, & More in Your Hands

A smart home system like Savant offers unparalleled luxury and convenience. With Savant, your lighting, shading, security devices, speakers, TVs, and heating are all connected to one easy-to-use platform. With one tap of a button, you can prepare your entire house for the day.

Yet many people are hesitant to fully embrace smart home living because they don’t want to feel tethered to their phones. If you have the same concerns, we have good news. The Savant app is not the only way to manage your connected devices. 

Read on to see four other ways you can control your Savant smart home in Toronto, ON.    

Security Cameras Can’t See Clearly in the Dark, Either!

Motion sensors? Check. Surveillance cameras? Check. A smart system that connects them all? Check.

There’s just one thing you’re missing in your home security system…and that’s lighting control!

Smart lighting is an often-overlooked component of smart home security and safety. But we’d argue it’s one of the most helpful features. Read on to see how lighting control can protect your Muskoka, ON home year-round.

Ready to Upgrade Your Sound in Certain Rooms? 

We love Sonos speakers here at Connect E3. They’re a great starting point to build a multi-room sound system or take on the go. But if you’re looking for something higher-end, perhaps for the home theatre or living room, you can expand upon your Sonos speaker system with new, high-end speakers.

In this blog, we’ll share where you might want to take your audio to the next level and what premium speakers and equipment to use. In the end, you’ll hear music as though a musician is really playing in your Toronto home or feel like you’re immersed in the action of your favourite movies. Plus, you can still incorporate new speakers into the Sonos wireless ecosystem. Learn how below! 

Tips to Create the Perfect Home Entertainment Space

Between football games and holiday parties, there’s no time like the stretch from October through December. If you like to host family and friends at your Muskoka, ON home, you can find an all-new way to entertain with a new or upgraded home theatre design.

And a home theatre doesn’t have to be a secluded room with two rows of recliners. There are flexible, multipurpose ways to use a theatre room that encompasses all the best equipment while making space to have conversations, share food, play games, and create lasting memories.

As a home theatre installer based in the Toronto and Muskoka area, we’ll share some of our entertainment ideas below to help spark inspiration.

Bring Festive Cheer to Every Room Through a Multi-Zone Speaker System

Are you thinking ahead to the holidays? Nothing brings friends and family together like the nostalgic warmth of holiday tunes. This year, everyone will love gathering at your house when there’s music playing through every room. With a whole-home audio system, your place will become everyone’s favorite spot for celebrations!    

What is whole-home audio? It’s a network of connected speakers that can play simultaneously or individually. You won’t have to walk around the house turning on each device and waiting to connect to Bluetooth. With a professional audio system, all you need to do is select the song, press ‘play,’ and your entire house will swell with music.

In this article, we’ll share how a multi-room audio system works and the many options you can bring to your Toronto, ON home.

What Makes Crestron a Standout in Smart Lighting? 

Lighting has remarkable power over the way we feel. After all, there’s a reason dark winters can bring people down. Bright, cool lighting at home feels right in the morning but may seem uncomfortable and harsh in the evening. Likewise, warm indoor lighting appears stuffy and dim during the day yet creates a cozy atmosphere after dark. 

So why do so many people settle for poor lighting? They may screw in any old lightbulb, even if it’s too bright or dim, and make do with it until it needs replacing again. 

It isn’t so with Crestron. When you use Crestron lighting control in your Muskoka, ON home, you create the ideal ambience for any activity with one press of a button. There are many smart lighting brands on the market, but below, we’ll share what makes Crestron one of the best. 

With Remote Access, Peace of Mind Is Only a Button Press Away 

Are you the anxious type that worries about your house and family when you’re away? You aren’t alone. We work with homeowners from Toronto to Muskoka that are all looking to protect their loved ones and livelihood. And what better way than with remote access technology? 

Remote access security systems let you check in on your house anytime. Perhaps you received an alert from a motion sensor and want to review your cameras’ footage. Or maybe you just want to see if a package has been delivered. Read on to see how interactive security technology will greatly benefit your Ontario home.

Make Sure Your Properties Are Protected and Connected at All Times 

If you had to rate your home’s Wi-Fi network, would you give it five out of five stars? If you’re like most people, probably not. 

Maybe you need to restart the router once a week after webpages stop loading. Or perhaps certain areas of your Toronto house never receive a strong signal to begin with. But today, a low-quality internet connection is more than a nuisance. Because your job, smart devices, and security system rely on your home network, you could be putting a lot at risk if it is inadequate.

Networking is the backbone of all home systems, and without a strong network, it doesn’t matter how fancy your technology is. Below, we’ll dive into how an upgraded home Wi-Fi setup helps you make the most of your smart home and security systems in Toronto, ON.

Manage Multiple Properties Through One Intelligent System 

If you’re heading home from the lake house after Thanksgiving, how can you guarantee it’s safe and sound while you’re at home in Toronto? If your vacation home is dark and vacant for weeks or months, it will look like an X on any burglar’s treasure map. 

But with a robust home surveillance system, you can protect your Ontario property when you’re hours away—and even when you’re asleep! Services like remote monitoring and video analytics ensure everything is fine, even if you can’t check footage or your phone. Here are the security solutions we recommend!

Make the Most of Your Outdoor Spaces with the Sound of Sonos

Whether you’re enjoying the patio on a summer evening or sitting by the fire in fall, you can soundtrack your outdoor activities year-round with weatherproof audio by Sonos.

These aren’t standard portable speakers. Instead, Sonos architectural speakers can be mounted permanently on your property and are durable enough to withstand extreme temperatures, rain, snow, and debris. Looking for something you can take with you on the go? The Sonos Move is equally weatherproof but portable, too, with brilliant sound quality.

Many people don’t realize landscape audio is not just for outdoor venues or restaurants. Read on to learn how Sonos outdoor speakers work and will enhance your Muskoka, ON home. 

Video Analytics Will Report if a Stranger Is on the Property—But Won’t Bother You about the Cat

Imagine you’re out to dinner with friends, enjoying the time chatting and sharing a bottle of wine. Just then, your phone vibrates. It’s your home security system alerting you that there’s been activity detected on the back porch.

Your heart races as you swipe open the app, checking live video footage. But the worry quickly subsides into annoyance. It’s only a raccoon, and that’s the third false alarm this week!

Home security cameras are meant to protect our families. So, what do we do if they’re not always helpful in catching important activities? If you receive too many needless notifications, you may stop reading them altogether.

But ignoring your security system could pose serious risks and also negates the entire purpose of home surveillance. Luckily, today’s video analytic technology and remote monitoring services report only truly unusual activity—and the system knows what isn’t a threat. Read on to see how smarter security can protect your home in Toronto, ON.

Illuminate Your Home in an Entirely New Way

When people talk about smart lighting, they’re usually referring to wirelessly controlling interior lights. They may use it in the bedroom, kitchen, or across the entire house. But what about outside?

Landscape lighting can absolutely be controlled by a Crestron smart system, and with it, you can do incredible things. We’re here to shed light on how, by partnering with a Crestron dealer, you can intelligently illuminate the exterior and backyard spaces of your Muskoka, ON home. Get inspired below!

Transform Your Outdoor Experience with Fully Weatherproof Audio

Whether you love electronic, rock, or country music, outdoor audio brings your favourite tunes to every corner of your lawn. From the hammock to the pool, you’ll be able to soundtrack your days in the sun and nights under the stars.

Unlike portable speakers, a backyard system is weatherproof and can stay mounted outside year-round. You can link a series of speakers together to play simultaneously, like your yard is a live music venue.

For the best outdoor music experience, you’ll need to choose durable equipment that withstands the elements—without sacrificing sound quality. To get started with backyard speakers at your Toronto, ON home, let the following steps guide you in the right direction.

See How SunBriteTV’s Weatherproof Televisions Transform Your Entertainment Year-Round

Staying home to watch TV may not sound like an exciting activity. But with an outdoor television, you can take your entertainment under the sun, stars, or sunset. There’s nothing like a night on the patio with a glass of wine, string lights, and a movie on the screen.

Brands like SunBriteTV manufacture durable outdoor TVs that can stay mounted outside year-round. And unlike indoor TVs, they combat glare and direct sunlight so you enjoy easy viewing during the day. How? As a home technology company based in the Muskoka, Ontario area, we’ll share what you can expect from a new weatherproof television below.

Discover the Possibilities with Remote Light Control

Remember when we could only use a landline or cordless phone for calls? And when TV shows could only be viewed live? Someday, we may find ourselves saying, “Do you remember when lights could only be turned on or off?”

Dimmers have been around for years, but their capabilities can only go so far. Now, smart LED lights let users customize the colour and brightness of their bulbs directly from their phones. But plug-and-play smart lights are vastly limited. You need to adjust the light every time you turn it on, and you can’t apply automated schedules or scenes for the entire house.

To do that, you’ll need a smart system like Lutron or Crestron lighting that merges all your lights into one ecosystem. Read on to see how remote light control by Lutron will forever enhance the way you illuminate your Toronto, ON home.